22/06/2025
“Soludo’s House Painting Directive: A Misplaced Priority While Critical Public Infrastructures Rot And Decay” – Ukachukwu Reacts
Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu (Ikukuoma), the leading APC governorship hopeful, has condemned Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s recent directive mandating the painting of houses in urban areas, describing it as a glaring case of misplaced priority by a government that has consistently abandoned critical infrastructure in urban centres.
Rather than focusing on cosmetic enforcement, the government should first lead by example—let Soludo start by painting the filthy and dilapidated public buildings across the state. A classic example is the Anambra State Regional Library in Onitsha—a public educational facility that has become an eyesore and has been allowed to deteriorate into a sorry state despite the Governor’s background as a former university lecturer. The current state of the building and other public infrastructures around urban areas speaks volumes to the reality of government abandonment and abdication of duty around major Anambra metropolitan cities.
Ukachukwu, reacting through his media office, stated:
“It is shocking that a state government can channel energy and public enforcement towards painting private homes, while key roads and infrastructure in major towns like Onitsha, Nnewi, and Awka remain in disgraceful conditions. Soludo’s administration is more interested in cosmetic projects and window dressing than solving core developmental challenges.”
The APC candidate questioned the rationale behind prioritising painting over accessibility, highlighting how several major urban roads and critical infrastructural necessities have been neglected while resources are diverted to what he termed “less important vanity projects.”
“As at today, non critical roads are being paved and tarred including pathways leading to abandoned shrines and evil forests inside isuofia community to the detriment of critical roads in urban areas. Why should Soludo focus on his own village roads especially most of those that should have waited after core economic roads in the state urban areas are fixed? The economic lifelines of Anambra urban roads that support commerce and movement are in deplorable condition".
"Boromeo roundabout Onitsha is desperately in need of a flyover yet Soludo turned a blind eye and is busy chasing shadows"
"Governance must be about impact, not propaganda or forced beautification,” Ukachukwu added.
For Nnewi, repainting houses is not the major need of ndi Nnewi. What the hardworking people of Nnewi community need is massive investments in reliable and renewable power generation and distribution to support the industrialization and economic growth and development of the Nnewi industrial cluster. There is also a very serious need for the rehabiliatation of the Ugwu Akpati ozu - Onitsha new road by St Mary's Catholic Church, the GSM Road to Okpuno-eze bus stop and the construction of roads inside Nkwo Market. These are priorities that should be attended to before ordering ndi Nnewi to start painting houses.
In Onitsha Axis, A flyover at Boromeo round about and Nkpor junction is long overdue and non negotiable, the road from Ado girls to inland town police command is in bad shape, Bida road to Creek road by Odumeje church has been abandoned after the demolition of people's properties by the state government.
The road near Housing Gate, 33 Onitsha has collapsed, Oguta Road to Peace Park Upper Iweka is now a nightmare for motorists.
The economy and the welfare of Anambra traders especially those in main market will be boosted if terrible roads like UGA Street, Bida/Sokoto road down to Modebe avenue to Fegge road should be fixed before repainting houses.
Government is serious responsibility and ndi Anambra cannot continue to tolerate mediocre leadership that has shown that it does not understand prioritization.
From Limca road Nkpor to Anyeji Omenwa to Mgbakogu close to Iruka Bread to Ilokoye road down to Elochukwu and Njelita roads are all in bad condition.
Roads from Enekwasumpu to Umusiome Nkpor down to Mkputamkpu Obosi are all in terrible condition, Ukaegbu Street Awada, Nzenwaku road, St Luke to Utuh street road, Nnokwa Street to Onumonu street are all unmotorable yet somehow the government has ordered the long suffering residents to repaint houses while government abandon them to their fate while spending their taxes elsewhere.
Just last year, government irresponsibility and lack of prioritization led to loss of human lives at Ugwu Mkpume, Achalla Agu Nkpor due to poorly managed flooding. Till date, Anambarians are still plagued by the poor Oye Olisa - Afor Igwe flood control which Soludo Government has failed to address adequately.
T junction Umunachi to Umu chigbo town hall - St kizito Umudioka is still in a very terrible state. Afor Igwe to Ogidi girls to Eziowelle down to Abatete is a death trap.
Aforigwe road from Uzuegbunam Okagbue house down to Eziowelle is as inaccessible as Abacha to Oraukwu road remains till date.
Igwe Ogbunike road to St Monica's Ogbunike to Umudioka road has been abandoned while 12 mile Umunachi road to ugwu Umudioka road has now been overgrown with w**d and overtaken by gullies.
These major roads and numerous abandoned public infrastructure across the state should be fixed before mandating ndi Anambra to repaint houses.
In Anambra today, Residents of urban cities like Onitsha must leave their houses with buckets, gallons and jerrycans before they could access drinking water because the government has failed to invest in resuscitating critical infrastructure that will deliver water directly into homes.
Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu (Ikukuoma) is grounded and has a deep understanding of the challenges facing Anambarians. With his proven track record in development and infrastructure delivery, he is prepared to offer Anambra a 21st-century urban and rural transformation agenda that goes beyond painting houses.
This strategic model is anchored on effective urban planning, economic reengineering, infrastructural renaissance including a failproof flood control and drainage system, clean energy generation and distribution, agricultural revolution, transportation, housing, human capital advancement and community-based development.
Ukachukwu’s approach will prioritize the most pressing needs of ndi Anambra and catalyze the necessary changes anchored on global best practices, public sector discipline, and a genuine commitment to human-centered development.
©Nicholas Ukachukwu Media Office
22nd June 2025
